1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play is set in East L.A. in a sewing factory. It is the first week of September in 1987. The main characters are Ana, Estela, Carmen, Pancha, Rosali. The cast is made up entirely of immigrant women. These women are within the lower class and all of them solely depend on their jobs at the factory. Except for Estela, the other four women have received approval of legalization. Unfortunately, Estela is the only who has not received her documentation of legalization.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when Estela reveals that she is not a legal immigrant. This is due to her having a criminal record for not paying off her debt. The women must all work together throughout the play to help Estela pay off her debt.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor of the play is that the women need to work together to complete this large order they have received in order to help out Estela.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Estela get her papers? Will they complete the order? Will Estela be deported?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana has to face the me against society obstacle. She has to stand up against society all because she is an emigrant. The rules of society limited her and those around her all because they weren't born in this country. Without the proper documentation she would not be able to apply to college. If she had not gone to college then she would have had to sacrifice her own personal goal to make a better life for herself and continue to work in the factory. Ana does in fact head to college giving her a new path to overcoming the societal wall blocking her from the entrance to a new future.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The most theatrical moment is when Ana decided to not let the rules of society tell her how to live and she stripes down to her underwear to beat the heat. Because Ana stripped down the other women follow her lead and also strip down. They agree with what Ana is saying about the social norms and like Ana they are comfortable with revealing themselves and who they are to the world that is trying to control and dictate their proper actions and behavior
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The first and most powerful image is when the women strip down to their underwear. This is showing the world that they are who they are and their body image does not define them in the slightest. The second image is the sewing shop. This is showing that even though it may be run down the appearance of the building shouldn't restrict what it can be used for. The sewing shop can help us really understand the title of Real Women Have Curves by showing that appearance is not everything. The final image is the dresses that the women are making. These women work hard in making these dress that are going to be bought by some high or upper middle class women. This just proves that it doesn't matter who wears or makes these dresses we are all just people. We are all the same.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Immigration issues
Body Image
Feminism
Ethnicity equality
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Family is a huge part of Real Women because of Ana, Estela, and Carmen are an actual family.They cause troubles for each of them but they know in the end they will still be together all because they are family. When Estela was in need of help, both her family and the women at the factory helped her as much as they could. This is what families do for one another. Even though family is not redefined it still shows that families stick together and help each other out in any situation.
The play is set in East L.A. in a sewing factory. It is the first week of September in 1987. The main characters are Ana, Estela, Carmen, Pancha, Rosali. The cast is made up entirely of immigrant women. These women are within the lower class and all of them solely depend on their jobs at the factory. Except for Estela, the other four women have received approval of legalization. Unfortunately, Estela is the only who has not received her documentation of legalization.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when Estela reveals that she is not a legal immigrant. This is due to her having a criminal record for not paying off her debt. The women must all work together throughout the play to help Estela pay off her debt.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor of the play is that the women need to work together to complete this large order they have received in order to help out Estela.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Estela get her papers? Will they complete the order? Will Estela be deported?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana has to face the me against society obstacle. She has to stand up against society all because she is an emigrant. The rules of society limited her and those around her all because they weren't born in this country. Without the proper documentation she would not be able to apply to college. If she had not gone to college then she would have had to sacrifice her own personal goal to make a better life for herself and continue to work in the factory. Ana does in fact head to college giving her a new path to overcoming the societal wall blocking her from the entrance to a new future.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The most theatrical moment is when Ana decided to not let the rules of society tell her how to live and she stripes down to her underwear to beat the heat. Because Ana stripped down the other women follow her lead and also strip down. They agree with what Ana is saying about the social norms and like Ana they are comfortable with revealing themselves and who they are to the world that is trying to control and dictate their proper actions and behavior
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The first and most powerful image is when the women strip down to their underwear. This is showing the world that they are who they are and their body image does not define them in the slightest. The second image is the sewing shop. This is showing that even though it may be run down the appearance of the building shouldn't restrict what it can be used for. The sewing shop can help us really understand the title of Real Women Have Curves by showing that appearance is not everything. The final image is the dresses that the women are making. These women work hard in making these dress that are going to be bought by some high or upper middle class women. This just proves that it doesn't matter who wears or makes these dresses we are all just people. We are all the same.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Immigration issues
Body Image
Feminism
Ethnicity equality
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Family is a huge part of Real Women because of Ana, Estela, and Carmen are an actual family.They cause troubles for each of them but they know in the end they will still be together all because they are family. When Estela was in need of help, both her family and the women at the factory helped her as much as they could. This is what families do for one another. Even though family is not redefined it still shows that families stick together and help each other out in any situation.